---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good luck is a sham. True success…"
description: "\"“Good luck is a sham. True success requires sacrifice.”\" — Rick Riordan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/rick-riordan-27_good-luck_good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-require_2219035.jpg"
---

#  Good luck is a sham. True success requires sacrifice.

![“Good luck is a sham. True success requires sacrifice.” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/rick-riordan-27_good-luck_good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-require_2219035.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/rick-riordan-27_good-luck_good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-require_2219035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/rick-riordan-27_good-luck_good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-require_2219035.jpg)

> ““Good luck is a sham. True success requires sacrifice.””

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Luck alone is insufficient; genuine achievement demands effort and sacrifice.

**In simple terms:** Success needs sacrifice, not luck.

Key Takeaway

Invest effort, accept sacrifice.

Themes

success effort sacrifice motivation

Mood

motivational realistic

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- sports
- career advancement
- academic pursuits

Key Concepts

mythology personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What are you willing to sacrifice for success?
- How do you balance effort and wellbeing?

A Different Perspective

Sacrifice may lead to burnout if unchecked.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Good luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-luck/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Luck Sham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck-sham-4944728/) [Requires Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requires-sacrifice-1151210/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Sham True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sham-true-4944729/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [True success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-success/)

## Related quotes

> [True success requires sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/true-success-requires-sacrifice/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Raising or caring for children requires sacrifice and service, which, I believe, heals us from the destructive forces of self-centeredness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/raising-or-caring-for-children-requires-sacrifice-and-service-which-i/)

[Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/)

> [Charity requires sacrifice, and members of Congress could set a good example of charity by giving up their pay increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/charity-requires-sacrifice-and-members-of-congress-could-set-a-good/)

[Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/)

> [“Politics requires sacrifice. The sacrifice of others, of course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dobbs/politics-requires-sacrifice-the-sacrifice-of-others-of-course/)

[Michael Dobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dobbs/)

> [Democracy, as I understand it, requires me to sacrifice myself for the masses, not to them. Who knows not that if you would save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-calhoun/democracy-as-i-understand-it-requires-me-to-sacrifice-myself-for-the/)

[John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-calhoun/)

> [You get rich because you do things most people will not do. Success requires sacrifice. You must be willing to make those sacrifices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/you-get-rich-because-you-do-things-most-people-will-not-do-success/)

[Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/)

> [It will hurt. It will take time. It will require dedication. It will require willpower. You will need to make healthy decisions. It requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/it-will-hurt-it-will-take-time-it-will-require-dedication-it-will-2/)

[Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/)

> [“In life, everything that is good, everything that is really worthwhile, requires sacrifice. It doesn't matter if it is big or small - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-martin/in-life-everything-that-is-good-everything-that-is-really-worthwhile/)

[Ricky Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-martin/)

> [The Lord requires sacrifice, meaning something above and beyond the minimum. The Master spoke of the "second mile" and told us to go there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/the-lord-requires-sacrifice-meaning-something-above-and-beyond-the/)

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

> [“God requires your sacrifice of praise, at precisely what seems like the worst moment, because it reveals Christ Jesus in your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-law/god-requires-your-sacrifice-of-praise-at-precisely-what-seems-like/)

[Terry Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-law/)

> [History says that progress often requires sacrifice, but what kind of progress can we claim when it is built on the lives of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joelle-charbonneau/history-says-that-progress-often-requires-sacrifice-but-what-kind-of/)

[Joelle Charbonneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joelle-charbonneau/)

> [“Leading a nation requires sacrifice; justice is the first one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/leading-a-nation-requires-sacrifice-justice-is-the-first-one/)

[M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/)

> [“Love often requires sacrifice, my dear. To answer your question, only a man in full control of his emotions can hope to survive the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tigner/love-often-requires-sacrifice-my-dear-to-answer-your-question-only-a/)

[Tim Tigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tigner/)

> [“When you consider the plight of your own existence as an individual, you have to take things a little more seriously.  This means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-moon/when-you-consider-the-plight-of-your-own-existence-as-an-individual/)

[Peter Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-moon/)

> [“Creation requires sacrifice and when it is finished it is embraced by a few but misunderstood and rejected by many.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christ-john-otto/creation-requires-sacrifice-and-when-it-is-finished-it-is-embraced-by/)

[Christ John Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christ-john-otto/)

## More by Rick Riordan

> [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. I’d been hanging around dryads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-made-sense-and-i-felt-kind-of-stupid-i-d-been-hanging-around-dryads/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-awkward-moment-when-you-jump-out-a-window-because-your-friend/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. "If the others found out-" "If the others found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-knelt-and-picked-it-up-he-regarded-jason-as-if-waiting-for-an/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wouldn-t-that-put-a-twist-in-your-toga/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

[Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## More Good luck quotes

> [“if you cannot control your hunger and appetite, good luck managing your blood chemistry, metabolism, waistline, and, in the bigger picture, the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/if-you-cannot-control-your-hunger-and-appetite-good-luck-managing/)

[David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/)

> [“Generally speaking, 99 percent of the time life is benign and supportive. The ego leads us to fixate on the 1 percent when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-richard-riso/generally-speaking-99-percent-of-the-time-life-is-benign-and/)

[Don Richard Riso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-richard-riso/)

> [“When Sebastian, cearly delighted to be treated like one of the guys, didn't move, Alex bared his teeth. " Depeche-toi! " Sebastian depeched. Alex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/when-sebastian-cearly-delighted-to-be-treated-like-one-of-the-guys/)

[Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/)

> [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings, and strictly honest who complained of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [Retweet this and you'll have good luck and happiness for the rest of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lush/retweet-this-and-you-ll-have-good-luck-and-happiness-for-the-rest-of/)

[Matthew Lush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lush/)

> [Worst thing in the world? John is completely out of it. Good luck, ladies. He's a freak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/worst-thing-in-the-world-john-is-completely-out-of-it-good-luck/)

[Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/)

> [Good luck is the gayest of all gay girls; Long in one place, she will not stay:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton-hay/good-luck-is-the-gayest-of-all-gay-girls-long-in-one-place-she-will/)

[John Milton Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton-hay/)

> [Instead of just being the person that's like: 'Gosh, that's cool that people are doing stuff and good luck. Do you need me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/instead-of-just-being-the-person-that-s-like-gosh-that-s-cool-that/)

[Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/)

> [Dear you have always been doing well; if you will keep on going you will meet your destination. Good luck to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/dear-you-have-always-been-doing-well-if-you-will-keep-on-going-you/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [Epitaphs are cheap, and they do a poor chap a world of good after he is dead, especially if he had hard luck while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/epitaphs-are-cheap-and-they-do-a-poor-chap-a-world-of-good-after-he/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [\[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelig-pliskin/it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and-what-isn-t-and-therefore/)

[Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelig-pliskin/)

> [Rain Of Summer, Snow Of Winter, Grace Of Autumn, Glory Of Spring, May Beauty Of Every Season, Give Ur Heart A Beautiful Reason 2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/rain-of-summer-snow-of-winter-grace-of-autumn-glory-of-spring-may/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [“First, there’s no princess and then even mushrooms don’t want to listen to him talk. Hooray, he’s finally a number one Luigi is taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-publishing/first-there-s-no-princess-and-then-even-mushrooms-don-t-want-to/)

[Jenson Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-publishing/)

> [Diligence, above all, is the mother of good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/diligence-above-all-is-the-mother-of-good-luck/)

[Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/)

> [“Shortly after the war Valentin had come into a little money, and had been drinking it ever since. He considered it his duty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/shortly-after-the-war-valentin-had-come-into-a-little-money-and-had/)

[Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/)

[Browse all 926 Good luck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-luck/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Good luck is a sham. True success requires sacrifice.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rick Riordan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-requires-sacrifice/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Good luck"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-requires-sacrifice/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/rick-riordan-27_good-luck_good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-require_2219035.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/rick-riordan-27_good-luck_good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-require_2219035.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/rick-riordan-27_good-luck_good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-require_2219035.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Good luck is a sham. True success requires sacrifice.” — Rick Riordan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Rick Riordan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Good luck is a sham. True...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-requires-sacrifice/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/good-luck-is-a-sham-true-success-requires-sacrifice/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
